Holinsheds Chronicles Volume 2 Henrie The Second

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Title: Chronicles of England, Scotland and Ireland (2 of 6): England (5 of 12)
Henrie the Second

Author: Raphael Holinshed

Release Date: September 27, 2005 [EBook #16761]

Language: English

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HENRIE THE SECOND,

The Second Sonne of Geffrey Plantagenet.

Henrie the second of that name, a French man borne, the second sonne of Geffrey
Plantagenet earle of Aniou, begotten of Maud the empresse, daughter to Henrie the first,
began his reigne ouer England the fiue and twentith of October, in the yeare after the creation
of the world 5121. and in the yeare after the incarnation of our sauiour 1154. about the
beginning of the third yeare of the emperour Frederike the first, the second of pope
Anastasius the fourth, the seuenteenth yeare of Lewes the seuenth king of France, and
second of Malcolme then king of Scotland. Immediatlie after he was aduertised of the death
of king Stephan, he came ouer into England, landing at Ostreham about the seuenth day of
December. After he had got his companies togither, which by tempest were scattered in his
passage, he came first to Winchester, where he receiued homage and fealtie of the Nobles of
the realme resorting vnto him. This doone he set foorth towards London, where he was
crowned king by Theobald archbishop of Canturburie the twentith daie of December.

The archbishop of Rouen, with thrée of his suffragans, the archbishop of Yorke, and manie
other bishops of England: Theodorus the earle of Flanders, with a great number of other
earles, lords and barons were present there at his coronation. He was at that time about the
age of three and twentie yeares, and to win the peoples loue, he spake manie comfortable
words vnto them, to put them in hope (as the manner is) that they should find him a louing
prince. He vsed the lords also verie courteouslie. And first of all, after his attéining to the
crowne, he chose to him councellers of the grauest personages, and best learned in the lawes
of the realme, with whose prudent aduice he perused those lawes, and amended them where
he thought necessarie, commanding chieflie, that the lawes established by his grandfather
Henrie the first should be obserued: and in manie things he relied vpon the aduice of
Theobald archbishop of Canturburie, at whose sute he admitted Thomas Becket to be his
chancellour, which Becket the said archbishop had made archdeacon of Canturburie the
yeare before.

Moreouer, by the sentence and doome of his councellers, to the intent that peace and quiet
order might take place, and be the better mainteined, he commanded by waie of publishing a
proclamation, that all strangers (which to get somwhat by the wars had flocked into the
realme, during the time of the ciuill discord betweene him and king Stephan) shuld depart

[111]

An. Reg. 1.

1154.

N. Triuet. Matth. Paris.

N. Triuet. The archbishop of Rouen.

Polydor.

Councellers chosen.

Ran. Higd.

Thom. Becket lord chancellor

An. Reg. 2.

1155

Nic. Triuet. Polydor. Wil. Paruus.
Strangers appointed to depart the

home without further delaie: wherefore he appointed them a daie, before the which they
should auoid vpon perill that might insue. It was a worlds woonder to sée and marke how
suddenlie these aliens were quite vanished, as though they had béene phantasmes. Their
abiding here was nothing profitable to the subiects of the realme, as they that were
accustomed to attempt one shrewd turne vpon an others necke, and thought it lawfull for
them so to doo. Amongst them was a great number of Flemings, whom the king hated more
than the residue.

By vertue also of this edict, William of Ypres, whom king Stephan (as ye haue heard) had
made earle of Kent, was constreined with others to depart the realme, king Henrie seizing all
his possessions into his owne hands. Diuerse castels were throwne downe and made plaine
with the ground at the kings commandement, which priuate men by king Stephans permission
had builded, or else for that they stood not in such places as was thought meet and expedient;
yet some he caused to be fortified: and furthermore, tooke into his hands againe such lands
and possessions as apperteined to the crowne, and were alienated vnto any manner of
person, of what degrée so euer he was. This wounded the minds of many with an inward
grudge, as well enough perceiuing that the king would looke so néere to his owne
commoditie, that nothing should be left for them that might any way be recouered and gotten
to his vse.

In this yere queene Elianor being then in the citie of London, on the last of Februarie was
deliuered of hir second sonne named Henrie. About the same time also, William Peuerell of
Notingham a noble man and of great possessions was disherited by the king for sorcerie and
witchcraft[1], which he had practised to kill Ranulfe earle of Chester, as it was reuealed
openlie, and brought to light. In accomplishing of which hainous crime and detestable act,
many others were of counsell, and found giltie with him, which escaped not vnpunished.

On the tenth of Aprill, king Henrie assembled the péeres & great lords of his realme togither
at Wallingford, and caused them to sweare allegiance vnto his eldest sonne William:
prouiding, that if he chanced to die, then they should doo the like vnto his brother Henrie.
Also whereas Hugh de Mortimer had fensed his castels against king Henrie, he besieged the
same, and taking the castell of Cleberie, he destroied it. Wherevpon, the foresaid Hugh
shortlie after was at peace with the king, and surrendred to him the two castels of Wigmore
and Bridgenorth, which hitherto he had holden. Moreouer, whereas there was variance
kindled betwixt the king, and Roger Fitz Miles of Glocester (who was earle of Hereford) for
the lands of Glocester, that variance was also quenched: for after the same Roger was dead,
his brother Walter succeeding him in the earldome of Hereford, was constreined to depart
with the citie of Glocester, which the king held and reteined in his owne hands.

In the second yeare of his reigne, king Henrie went to Yorke, and in that countrie tooke into
his hands diuers castels which had béene long in possession of priuate men; namelie, the
castell of Scarborough, which William earle of Albemarle held, and now was constreined to
resign it vp, full sore against his will. This yeare William the kings eldest sonne departed this
life, and was buried at Reading. The realme of England was brought on all sides into verie
good quiet; but yer long, word came to K. Henrie, that his brother Geffrey had begun a
rebellion on the other side of the sea. For their father Geffrey (when he died) left thrée sonnes
behind him, Henrie, Geffrey, and William, ordeining by his testament, when Henrie should
haue gotten possession of England and Normandie, that then the countrie of Aniou should
remaine vnto Geffrey, and in the meane time, he to haue these three townes, Chinon, Lodun,
and Mirabell, to mainteine his estate; and when the time came that the whole heritage should
fall vnto him, he might by possession of these three haue a readier meane to come by all the
rest. Furthermore, fearing least his eldest sonne Henrie (who as then was absent) would not
consent to the performance of this his will, he caused certeine bishops and other of the
Nobles to sweare, that they should not suffer his bodie to be committed to buriall, till his
sonnes had sworne to fulfill his last will and testament in all other things, but especially in this
behalfe, wherin he iudged not amisse. For though Henrie was loth to take his oth, yet bicause
his fathers bodie should not remaine vnburied, he was contented to sweare.

But after he had obteined the kingdome of England, his couetous desire, increasing still with
abundance alreadie obteined, found meanes to procure of pope Adrian the fourth (who was
an Englishman borne) a dispensation for that oth: wherevpon (hauing got licence to depart
from the office both of right, law and equitie) neglecting his fathers ordinance, he passed ouer
into Normandie, and making war against his brother the said Geffrey, easilie expelled him out
of those places, which were assigned him by bequest in his fathers testament, and so tooke
the earledome of Aniou into his owne possession. Howbeit, he gaue vnto his said brother a
pension of a thousand pounds English & two thousand pounds of the monie of Aniou, with

Strangers appointed to depart the
realme. Aliens auoid the land.

[112]

William de Ypres.

Castels ouerthrowne. Polydor.
Matth. Paris.

Wil. Paruus. Matth. Paris.

N. Triuet. Matth. Paris. Matth. West.
William Peuerell disherited.

Nic. Treuet.
Matth. Paris. Nic. Treuet. Hugh de

Mortimer. The castell of Cleberie.

Roger Fitz Miles.

An. Reg. 2.
The king goeth into the north.
The castell of Scarborough.

Wil. Paruus. Nic. Treuet. The death
of the kings son William.
Geffrey the kings brother rebelleth.

Wil. Paruus.

[113]

Pope Adrian an Englishman borne. A
dispensatiō for an oth. Nic. Treuet.

the towne of Lodun, and certeine other lands to liue vpon; who neuerthelesse thinking
himselfe euill vsed at the kings hands, rebelled and died.

¶ Here we haue to note the lacke of conscience and religion, not onlie in the pretended
successor of Peter in giuing a dispensasion for an oth, but also in his good ghostlie sonne,
who was no lesse forward in reuolting from his oth, than the other was willing to acquite him
from the force thereof. But if these men had beene profiting scholars in the vniuersitie of the
pagans, as they were arrand truants and ranke dullards in the schoole of christians, they might
haue learned by profane examples, that as oths are not to be rashlie taken, so they are not to
be vnaduisedlie broken. Herevnto alludeth Aristotle in his Metaphysikes, shewing the cause
why poetrie hath feigned that the gods in old time vsed to sweare by water, as Jupiter is
reported to haue doone in this manner;

—— per flumina iuro

Infera sub terra Stygio labentia luco.

To signifie vnto vs, that as water is a verie ancient and excellent element, and so necessarie
that without it the life of man cannot consist; euen so we ought to estéeme of an oth, than the
which we should thinke nothing more religious, nothing more holie, nothing more christian.
Herevnto also tendeth the fable of the transmutation of mariners into Dolphins for periurie:
importing thus much for our instruction, that the breaking of an oth, in a case that may
preiudice, procureth greeuous punishments from God against them that so lewdlie doo
offend. But such is the impudencie of the pope, that he will not grant dispensations onlie for
oths, but for incest, for treason, and for any other sinne: which he may doo (as he boasteth)
by vertue of his absolute and vniuersall iurisdiction: as we haue latelie in most lamentable sort
séene exemplified. But to the course of our storie.

Shortlie after, when king Henrie had dispatched his businesse in Normandie, and made an
end of troubles there betwixt him and his brother Geffrey, he returned into England, bicause
he receiued aduertisement, that Malcolme king of Scotland began to make war against his
subiects that bordered next vnto him, wherevpon he hasted northwards: and comming first
into Cumberland, he tooke the citie of Carleil, seizing all that countrie into his hands; and
going after into Northumberland, he wan the towne of Newcastell, with the castell of
Bamburg, and tooke into his possession all that countrie which his mother the empresse had
sometimes granted vnto king Dauid, as before ye haue heard: howbeit, bicause he would not
séeme to offer too much wrong, and be esteemed vnmindfull of former benefites receiued, he
suffered king Malcolme to enioy the earledome of Huntington, which king Stephan had giuen
vnto his father earle Henrie, sonne to king Dauid, as before is partlie touched.

William also the earle of Mortaigne, and Warren sonne of king Stephan, were compelled to
surrender to king Henrie, the castell of Pemsey, the citie of Norwich, and other townes and
castels which he held, apperteining to the demeane of the crowne: to whom the king in
recompense restored those lands which his father king Stephan held in the daies of king
Henrie the first.

About this time Theodorike earle of Flanders (going with his wife vnto Jerusalem) committed
his sonne Philip with all his lands, to the custodie of the king of England. Hugh Bigot also
resigned his castels into the kings hands.

But whilest king Henrie was about (as before ye haue heard) to recouer and get backe the
portions of his kingdome made away and dismembred by his predecessors, he was informed
that the Welshmen raised a rebellion against him; to represse whose attempts, he hasted
foorth with all diligence. Now at his first approch to their countrie, his souldiers being set
vpon in the straits, were verie fiercelie put back by the enimies, in somuch that a rumor ran
how king Henrie was slaine, which puffed vp the Welshmen with no small hope, and dawnted
the Englishmen with great feare. In déed, diuerse of the English nobilitie were slaine, and
(amongst others) Eustace Fitz John, and Robert de Curey, men of great honor and
reputation.

Those which escaped in returning backe, not knowing that the king passed through the straits
without danger, declared to their fellowes that followed and were approching to the said
straits, that (so farre as they knew) the king and all the residue were lost. These newes so
discomforted the companies, that Henrie of Essex, which bare the kings standard by right of
inheritance, threw downe the same, and fled: which dishonorable déed was afterward laid to
his charge by one Robert de Mountfort, with whom (by order taken of the king) he fought a
combat in triall of the quarrell, and was ouercome: but yet the king qualifieng the rigor of the
iudgement by mercie pardoned his life, and appointed him to be a shorne moonke, and put

Ouid. Met. lib. 1. fab. 6.

Ouid. Met. lib. 3. fab. 8, 9, 10.

1156.

King Henrie goeth against the Scots.
He wan Carleil and Newcastell and
others.

The earledome of Huntingtō.

William earle of Mortaigne
Matth. Paris. Nic. Treuet.

An. Reg. 3.

1157.

Theodorike earle of Flanders.
[114]

Rebellion of Welshmen. The king
inuadeth them.

Eustace Fitz John & Robert de
Curey slaine.

Henrie of Essex.
Matth. West. Wil. Paruus.
A combat betwixt Henrie de Essex,
and Robert de Mountfort.
Matth. West.

into the abbey of Reading, taking his lands and possessions into his hands as forfeited:
howbeit this combat was not tried till about the 9. yeare of this kings reigne.

Now the king, hearing that his armie was discomfited, came to his men, and shewing himselfe
to them with open visage, greatlie reuiued the whole multitude, and then procéeding against
the enimies, his people were afterwards more warie in looking to themselues, insomuch that
at length (when the K. prepared to inuade the Welshmen both by water & land) they sought
to him for peace, and wholie submitted themselues vnto his grace and mercie.

About the same time, king Henrie builded the castell of Rutland, the castell of Basingwerke,
and one house also of Templers. In the moneth of September also this yeare, the kings third
sonne was borne at Oxenford, amp; named Richard. This yeare was Thomas Becket
preferred to be the kings Chancellor. The king holding his Christmas at Worcester in great
royaltie, sat in the church at seruice, with his crowne on his head, as the kings vsed in those
daies to doo on solemne feasts: but as soone as masse was ended, he tooke his crowne from
his head, and set it downe vpon the altar in signe of humblenes, so that he neuer after passed
for the wearing of a crowne. The same yeare also the king altered his coine, abrogating
certeine peeces called basels.

In the moneth of August he went ouer into Normandie, and came to an enteruiew with the
French king neere to the riuer of Eata, where they intreated of a league, and of a marriage,
which was after agréed vpon, betwixt Henrie the sonne of king Henrie; and the ladie
Margaret, daughter to the French king: at which time Thomas Becket (then being the kings
chancellor) was sent to Paris in great araie to fetch hir: who among other furnitures had nine
long charrets (as Matthew Paris writeth.) Now when this ladie was deliuered to Thomas
Becket the lord chancellor, and brought from Paris, she was appointed from thencefoorth to
remaine in the house of Robert de Newburge, a Noble man of great honor, vntill such time as
the mariage should be solemnized.

After the two kings were departed in sunder, K. Henrie prepared an armie against Conan
duke of Britaine, who had seized the citie of Naunts into his hands, after the decease of
Geffrey the kings brother, who was earle of Naunts. At length, the same Conan perceiuing
himselfe not able to resist the king of England, vpon the daie of the feast of saint Michael the
archangell came to king Henrie, and surrendred the citie of Naunts into his hands, with all the
whole countrie therevnto belonging. Soone after which resignation, and vpon the 24. of
August, Geffrey the kings fourth sonne was borne of his wife queene Elianor.

In December following, Theobald earle of Blois was accorded with king Henrie, to deliuer to
him two of his castels. Likewise Petroke earle of Perch surrendred two castels vnto king
Henrie, which he had vsurped of the demeanes of Normandie in the daies of king Stephan:
one of which castels the king gaue him againe, receiuing homage of him for the same.

Moreouer king Henrie and Raimond earle of Barzelone met togither at Blaime, where they
concluded a league by way of allegiance, so that Richard the sonne of king Henrie should
take to wife the daughter of the said Raimond in time conuenient; and that the king of England
should giue vnto the said Richard the duchie of Aquitane, & the countie of Poictow. This
earle Raimond had married the daughter and heire of the king of Aragon.

In the meane time, a secret grudge that had long depended betwéene king Henrie and king
Lewes of France did still continue, and though there was a friendship agreed betweene them
(as ye haue heard) to haue extinguished the same; yet was it but a fained friendship: for vpon
euery new occasion they were readie to breake againe, as it came to passe shortlie after.

William duke of Aquitane, grandfather to queene Elianor, married the daughter and heire of
the earle of Tholouze, and going vnto the warres of the holie land, he engaged that earledome
vnto Raimond the earle of saint Giles, and died before he could returne. His sonne William,
father to quéene Elianor, suffered his earledome to remaine still vnredéemed, either for want
of sufficiencie, or through negligence and carelesnesse: so that the earle of saint Giles kéeping
possession thereof vnto his dieng daie, left it to his sonne Raimond, who inioyed it likewise.
Now when king Lewes (hauing married the foresaid Elianor) demanded restitution as in the
right of his wife, earle Raimond flatlie at the first denied to restore it, but after considering his
lacke of power to resist the kings puissance, he plied the K. with humble petitions, and so
preuailed by faire words; that in the end king Lewes granted him his sister Constance in
marriage (which Constance, as ye haue heard, was married before vnto Eustace the sonne of
king Stephan) & with hir granted him libertie to reteine the earldome of Tholouze as it were
by waie of endowment: whereto the other accorded. Howbeit king Henrie hauing married the
foresaid quéene Elianor, after the diuorse had betwixt hir and king Lewes, made claime to the

The Welshmen submit themselues.

The castell of Rutland and
Basingwerke built. Matth. Paris.
Thomas Becket lord Chancelor.
Ann. Reg. 4.

1158.

Matth. Paris. The king laieth his
crown on the altar.

Coine altered.

Additions to John Pike.

The lord chancellor Becket sent into
France. Matth. West.

Geffrey the kings fourth son born. [115]

Petroke earle of Perch.

Raimond erle of Barzelone. Richard
the kings sonne offered to erle
Raimonds daughter.

A fained friendship.

William duke of Aquitaine.
Earle of saint Giles otherwise
Tholouze.

An. Reg. 5.

1159.

Matth. Paris Matt. Westm.

said countie of Tholouze in the right of his wife. Herevpon earle Raimond, trusting now to the
aid of his brother in law king Lewes, denied to restore it; so that king Henrie determined to
recouer it by force, and entring by and by into Gascoine with an armie, he drew towards the
countrie of Tholouze, & began to inuade the same with great force and courage.

Diuerse great lords of those parties ioyned with king Henrie in his war which he attempted
against the earle of saint Giles, as the earle of Barzelone, and the lord William Thencheuile, a
man of great power in those quarters, hauing vnder his rule manie cities, castels and townes,
notwithstanding that he had of late lost many of them by violence of the foresaid earle of
Tholouze, but now by the aide of king Henrie he recouered them all. Malcolme also king of
Scotland came vnto king Henrie, whilest he was foorth in this iournie, to associate him in this
businesse.

The earle hearing of king Henries comming with an armie, was put in great feare, and
therevpon wrote letters to his brother in law king Lewes, requiring him with all spéed possible
to come vnto his aid. King Lewes vpon receipt of the letters, & vnderstanding the present
danger of the earle, made such hast in continuing his iournie both daie and night, that he came
to Tholouze, before king Henrie could arriue there. Which when king Henrie vnderstood, and
perceiued how he was preuented, he changed his purpose of besieging the citie, and fell to
spoiling of the countrie thereabouts: at which time he recouered certaine places that latelie
before had reuolted from his gouernment, & (amongst the rest) the citie of Cahors, which he
furnished with men, munition and vittels, appointing his chancellor Thomas Becket to the
custodie and keeping thereof: he fortified other places also which he had gotten, placing
capteines and men of warre to looke vnto the defense of the same. Whilest the king was thus
abrode on his iournie in the parties of Aquitaine, William earle of Bullongne and Mortaine the
sonne of king Stephan, and Haimon earle of Glocester departed this life, which two earles
went thither with him.

Finallie, when he had set things at a staie in those parties, he returned towards Normandie,
and comming to the citie of Toures, he gaue the order of knighthood vnto Malcolme king of
Scotland, and so in the moneth of October he came backe into Normandie, and there
augmenting his armie with new supplies, entred into the countie of Beauuoisin, burned manie
villages in the same, and destroied the strong castell of Gerberie, except one turret, which his
souldiers could not take, by reason of the fire and smoke which staied and kept them from it.
Moreouer, Simon earle of Auranches deliuered vnto king Henrie such fortresses as he held in
France, as Rochfort, Montfort, and such like, which was no small discommoditie and
inconuenience to the French king, bicause the garisons placed in those fortresses impeached
the passage betwixt Paris and Orleance. But shortlie after, a truce was taken to last from the
moneth of December, vnto the feast of the holie Trinitie in the yeare next following.

In the moneth of Maie also insuing, a peace was concluded vpon the former articles and
conditions: for further confirmation whereof, the mariage was solemnized betwixt Henrie the
kings sonne being seuen yeares of age, and the ladie Margaret daughter to the French king,
being not past three yeares old: as writers doo report. The marriage was celebrated at
Newborough on the second daie of Nouember, by the authoritie of two legats of the
apostolike sée, Henrie bishop of Pisa, and William bishop of Pauia, both preests and
cardinals.

About the same time came certeine Dutchmen of the sort called Ualdoies ouer into this
realme, to the number of thirtie or more, who held opinions in religion contrarie to the faith of
the Romane church, for (as one author affirmeth) they which first spred the opinions which
these men held, came from Gascoigne, and preuailed so greatlie in setting foorth their
doctrine, that they mightilie increased through the large regions of Spaine, France, Italie, and
Germanie: simple men (God wote) they were for the most part, as is written of them, and of
no quicke capacitie. Howbeit, those which at this time came ouer into England, were
indifferentlie well learned, and their principall or ringleader was named Gerard. Now also was
a councell assembled at Oxford, whereat these dogmatists were examined vpon certeine
points of their profession. The forsaid Gerard vndertaking to answere for them all, protested
that they were good christians, and had the doctrine of the apostles in all reuerence.
Moreouer, being examined what they thought of the substance of the godhead and the merits
of Christ, they answered rightlie, and to the point; but being further examined vpon other
articles of the religion then receiued, they swarued from the church, and namelie, in the vse of
the diuine sacraments, derogating such grace from the same, as the church by hir authoritie
had then ascribed thereto. To conclude, they would renounce their opinions, in somuch that
they were condemned, burned in the forehead with an hot iron, and in the cold season of
winter stripped naked from the girdle steed vpward, and so whipped out of the towne; with

Wil. Paruus. William Trencheuille.

N. Triuet.

[116]

The citie of Cahors. N. Triuet. The
lord chancellor Becket.

Rob. Houed. William earle of
Bullongne.

The countie of Beauuoisin.

A truce taken.
An. Reg. 6.

1160.

A peace concluded.
A marriage concluded. Matth. Paris.
Legats.

Wil. Paruus. Certeine of the Ualdois
came into England being Dutchmē.

A councell at Oxford.

The professions of the Ualdoies.

Their examination & protestation.
The Ualdois condemned.

They are forbidden meat and drinke.

proclamation made, that no man should be so hardie as to receiue them into any house,
relieue them with meat, drinke, or any other kind of meanes: wherevpon it fell out in fine that
they were starued to death through cold and hunger: howbeit in this their affliction they
séemed to reioise, in that they suffered for Gods cause, as they made account.

The same yeare, Matthew sonne to the earle of Flanders married the ladie Marie the abbesse
of Ramsie, daughter to king Stephan, and with hir had the countie of Bullongne. About this
mariage grew the first falling out betwixt the king and his chancellor Thomas Becket (as some
haue written) but none more than the said Matthew was offended with the said chancellor,
bicause he was so sore against the said contract.

King Henrie, shortlie after the marriage was consummate betwixt his sonne & the French
kings daughter, got into his hands the castell of Gisors, with two other castels, situate vpon
the riuer of Eata in the confines of Normandie and France. For it was accorded betwixt the
two kings, that when the marriage should be finished, king Henrie should haue those thrée
castels, bicause they apperteined to Normandie; in the meane time, the same castels were
deliuered into the hands of Robert de Poiron, Tostes de Saint Omer, and Robert Hastings,
thrée knights templers, who vpon the consummation of the marriages before said, and
according to the trust committed to them, surrendred the possession of the said castels into
the hands of king Henrie.

But the French king was not a little mooued, for that king Henrie had seized vpon them
without his licence, in so much that he raised a power of armed men, and sent them into
Normandie, where they had one cruell conflict aboue the rest with the Normans, till the night
parted them in sunder, by meane whereof the Frenchmen withdrew to Chaumount, and the
Normans to Gisors. The next daie, as the Frenchmen came foorth againe, purposing to haue
won Gisors, they were beaten backe by the Normans, who issued out of the towne to
skirmish with them. Thus was the warre renewed betwixt these two princes; and by setting on
of Theobald earle of Blois, the matter grew to that point, that the English and French powers
comming foorthwith into the field, and marching one against an other, they approched so
neere togither, that battell was presentlie looked for, first in Ueulgessine, and after in the
teritorie of Dune; but yet in the end such order was taken betwixt them, that their armies
brake vp.

The three Templers also ran in displeasure of the French king, for the deliuerie of the castels
before they knew his mind, so that he banished them the realme of France for euermore: but
king Henrie receiued them, and gaue them honorable enterteinement. Some write that there
were but two castels, Gisors and Meall, which were thus put into their hands, and by them
deliuered as before is mentioned.

About this time Theobald archbishop of Canturburie departed this life, after he had gouerned
that sée the space of 22. yeares, who at his going to Rome, and receipt of the pall of pope
Innocent the second, was also created legat of the see apostolike, which office he exercised
so diligentlie, and so much to the auaile of the church, that the dignitie of legatship remained
euer after to the archbishop of Canturburie by a speciall decrée, so that they were intituled
Legati nati, that is to say Legats borne (as mine author dooth report.) This Theobald greatlie
fauoured Thomas Becket.

This Becket was borne in London, his father hight Gilbert, but his mother was a Syrian borne,
and by religion a Saracen: howbeit (no regard had of his parents) he grew so highlie in fauour
with the king, and might doo so much in England, that he seemed to reigne as if he had beene
associat with him also in the kingdome, and being Lord chancellor, the king sent him ouer into
England (Richard Lucie being in his companie) with sundrie letters in his fauour, thereby to
procure his election to that sée: which was brought to passe according to the kings desire at
Westminster. Afterward he was ordeined at Canturburie on saturdaie in Witsunwéeke, by
Henrie bishop of Winchester (although there be that write how Walter bishop of Rochester
did consecrate him) which consecration was in the 44. yeare of his age, and in the fift yere
after his first aduancement to the office of Lord chancellor, so that he was the eight and
thirtith archbishop which gouerned in that see.

Toward the end of the same yeare, Henrie the kings sonne receiued homage of the barons,
first in Normandie, and after in England. In the yeare ensuing, the king his father committed
him to archbishop Becket, that he might sée him brought vp and trained in maners and
courtlie behauiour, as apperteined to his estate: wherevpon the archbishop in iest called him
his sonne.

This yeare Quéene Elianor was brought to bed at Rohan of a daughter named Elianor.

They are forbidden meat and drinke.
They are starued to death.

N. Triuet.
The first falling out betwixt the K. &
Thomas Becket.
Matth. Paris. Matth. West.
[117]

An. Reg. 7.

1161.

Rog. Houed.

Gaguinus. The French & Normans
fight.

Nic. Triuet.

Thrée knights templers. Rog. Houed.

Matth. Paris.

The death of Theobald archbishop of
Canturburie.

The power legantine anexed to Cant.
Wil. Paru.

The authoritie of Becket.

An. Reg. 6.

He is consecrated archb. Wil. Paru.

1162.

Quadrilogium ex vita eiusdem
Thomæ.

The archbishop a better courtier than
a preacher.

[118]
The quéene brought to bed of a
daughter.

In like maner the kings of England and France receiued pope Alexander the third at Cocie
vpon Loire with all honor and reuerence, insomuch that they attended vpon his stirrup on foot
like pages or lackies, the one vpon his right side, and the other on his left.

¶ Note here the intollerable pride of this antichristian pope in assuming, and the
basemindednesse of these two kings in ascribing vnto that man of sinne such dignitie as is
vtterlie vnfit for his indignitie. But what will this monster of men, this Stupor mundi, this
Diaboli primogenitus & hæres not arrogate for his owne aduancement; like yuie climing aloft,
& choking the trée by whose helpe it créepeth vp from the root to the top. But the end of this
seauen horned beast so extolling and lifting it selfe vp to heauen, is

—— Erebo miserè claudetur in imo
Atque illic miris cruciatibus afficietur.

In Januarie ensuing, the king returned into England, and the same yeare the king of Scots did
homage vnto Henrie the yonger, and deliuered his yonger brother Dauid to the king his father,
with diuerse other the sonnes of his lords and barons in pledge, for assurance of a perpetuall
peace to be kept betweene them, with some such castels as he required.

In the meane time archbishop Thomas went to the councell holden by pope Alexander at
Tours in the Octaues of Pentecost, where he resigned his bishoprike into the popes hands (as
the fame went) being troubled in conscience for that he had receiued it by the kings
preferment. The pope allowing his purpose, committed the same pastorlike dignitie to him
againe by his ecclesiasticall power, whereby the archbishop was eased verie well of his
greefe, and shortlie after his returne from his councell, seemed desirous to reduce & cause to
be restored such rights as he pretended to belong vnto the church of Canturburie, whereby
he ran into the displeasure of manie, and namelie of the mightiest.

Moreouer he required of the king the kéeping of Rochester castell, & the custodie of the
tower of London. He alledged also that Saltwood & Hith belonged peculiarlie to the
seigniorie of his see. He called Roger earle of Clare vnto Westminster, to doo his homage,
vnto him for the castell of Tunbridge: but the earle denied it through the setting on of the king,
alledging all the fee thereof to apperteine rather to the king than to the archbishop. Thus was
the archbishop troubled, and he grew dailie more and more out of the kings fauour. For yee
must vnderstand, that this was not the first nor the second, but the eight time that the king had
shewed tokens of his displeasure against him.

After this, vpon the first day of Julie, Rice prince of Southwales, with diuerse other lords and
nobles of Wales, did homage both to the king and to his sonne Henrie at Woodstocke.
Hamline the kings bastard brother married the countesse of Warren, the widow of William
earle of Mortaigne bastard sonne to king Stephan. This countesse was the sole daughter and
heire of William the third earle of Warren, which went with Lewes king of France into the
holie land, and there died. Soone after, the Welshmen rebelling with their prince Rice and his
vncle Owen, did manie mischéefes on the marshes: and by the death of Walter Gifford earle
of Buckingham (who deceased this yeare without heire) that earledome came to the kings
hands.

On the 20. daie of September were three circles seene to compasse the sun, and so
continued the space of thrée houres togither: which when they vanished awaie, two sunnes
appeared and sprang foorth after a maruellous maner. Which strange sight the common
people imagined to be a signe or token of the controuersie then kindling betwixt the king and
the archbishop.

About this time the king called a parlement at Westminster, to treat of matters concerning the
commonwealth, wherein great discord arose betwixt the king & archbishop Becket, about
certeine points touching the liberties of the church. For the king hauing an earnest zeale vnto
iustice, and commanding the iudges to punish offenders without respect, vnderstood by their
information, that manie things by them of the spiritualtie (against whome their authoritie might
not be extended) were committed contrarie to common order: as theft, rapine, murther, and
manslaughter; in so much that in his presence it was made notorious, that sith the beginning of
his reigne, aboue an hundred manslaughters had béene committed within his realme of
England by préests and men of religious orders. Herevpon being mooued in mind, he set forth
lawes against the spiritualtie, wherein he shewed his zeale of iustice. For as the cause
procéeded from the bishops of that age, so did the fault also, sith contrarie to their owne
canons they permitted préests to liue ouer licentiouslie without due correction, studieng onelie
to mainteine the liberties and immunities of the church, and not to reforme the irregularitie of
the regulars. Of this crew was one Philip de Broc, a canon of Bedford, who being arreigned

daughter.
An. Reg. 9.

1163.

An enteruiew. N. Triuet.

Homage of the K. of Scots.

A councell at Tours.

The archbish. practiseth treason
secretlie. Homage for the castell of
Tunbridge.

Matth. Paris. Matth. West.

An. Reg. 10.

Homage of the Welshmen. N. Triuet.

1164.

Matth. Paris.

[119]
Discord still kindleth betwixt the
king and the archb.

Murthers committed by préests.

W. Paruus.
Matth. Paris.

before the kings iusticer for a murther, vttered disdainefull words against the same iusticer:
which when he could not denie before the archbishop, he was depriued of his prebend, and
banished the land for two yeares space.

These things troubled the king, who therefore hauing alreadie set downe such orders as
should bridle the spiritualtie from their wicked dooings, thought that if he might get them
confirmed in parlement by consent of the bishops and clergie, then the same should take
place and be receiued for lawes. Wherefore he earnestlie required at this parlement that it
might be enacted against all such of the spiritualtie, as should be taken and conuicted for any
henious offense, they should loose the priuiledge of the church, and be deliuered vnto the ciuill
magistrate, who should sée them suffer execution for their offences, in like maner as he might
any of the kings subiects being laie men. For otherwise the king alledged, that they would
boldlie presume to doo much more mischiefe, if after ecclesiasticall discipline, no secular
correction should follow. And likelie it was that they would passe but little for their disgrading
and losse of their order, who in contempt of their calling would not absteine from committing
most mischieuous abhominations and hainous enormities.

Unto these reasons thus proponed by the king (to haue his purpose take effect) the
archbishop and his suffragans, with the rest of the bishops, answered verie pithilie, labouring
to proue that it was more against the liberties of the church, than that they might with reason
well allow. Wherevpon the king being moued exceedinglie against them, demanded whether
they would obserue his roiall lawes and customes, which the archbishops and bishops in the
time of his grandfather did hold and obeie or not? Wherevpon they made answere, that they
would obserue them, Saluo ordine suo, Their order in all things saued. But the king being
highlie offended with such exceptions, vrged the matter so, that he would haue them to take
their oth absolutely, & without all exceptions, but they would none of that. At length he
departed from London in verie great displeasure with the bishops, hauing first taken from the
archbishop Thomas all the offices and dignities which he enioied since his first being created
chancellor.

Howbeit, after this, manie of the bishops séeing wherevnto this broile would grow, began to
shrinke from the archbishop, and inclined to the king. But the archbishop stood stiflie in his
opinion, and would not bend at all, till at length not onelie his suffragans the bishops, but also
the bishop of Liseux (who came ouer to doo some good in the matter) and the abbat of
Elemosina (who was sent from the pope) persuaded him to agree to the kings will, in so much
that being ouercome at last with the earnest suit of his freends, he came first to Woodstocke,
and there promised the king to obserue his lawes, Bona fide, Faithfullie, and without all
collusion or deceit.

Shortlie after, in the feast of S. Hilarie, a councell was holden at Clarendon, whereto the
archbishop, and in manner all the lords spirituall and temporall of the land made their repaire.
Here the archbishop would haue willinglie started from his promise, if first the bishops, and
after the earles of Leicester and Cornewall, Robert and Reignald (which Reignald was vncle
to the king) and lastlie two knights templers, had not mooued him to yéeld to the kings will.
But (amongst the rest) these two knights, namelie Richard de Hastings, and Hosteus de
Boloigne were verie earnest with him, & at length preuailed, though not for conscience of
dutie, wherewith he should haue beene touched; yet with feare of danger, which (by refusing
to satisfie the kings will) he should haue brought not onelie vpon himselfe, but also vpon the
other bishops there present.

These knights séemed to lament his case, as if alreadie they had séene naked swords shaken
about his eares. And indeed, certeine of the kings seruants that attended vpon his person
after the manner of a gard, went to and fro, rushing vp and downe the chambers, shaking
their bright battell axes readie appointed, and looking as if they would forthwith run vpon the
bishops. Wherevpon the archbishop being touched with remorse, and séeming to striue
against his determinat purpose, consented to obey the kings pleasure, and so promised in the
word of a préest, swering furthermore, that he would obserue the kings lawes and customes,
without expressing these words, Saluo ordine meo, Mine order saued, which he had vsed
before. The like oth did all the bishops take. But the archbishop refused at that time to seale
to the writing that conteined the articles of the oth which he should haue obserued, requiring
as it were a time to consider of them, sith in so weightie a matter nothing ought to be doone
without good and deliberate aduice, wherefore he tooke with him a copie thereof, and so did
the archbishop of Yorke an other, and the third remained with the king.

Shortlie after, the archbishop considering further of this oth which he had taken, repented
himselfe greeuouslie therof, in so much that he absteined from saieng of masse, till he had by

The king meaneth to bridle the
spiritualtie frō presumptuous
dealing. The prelats against the king.
Ger. Dor.

Their order saued.

The king offended with the bishops.

R. Houed.

R. Houed.

1164.
Ger. Dor. A councell at Clarendon.

[120]

Ger. Dor.

Matt. Paris. The archbishop Becket
receiueth an oth.

He repenteth him in that he had
receiued an oth. Matth. Paris.

confession and fruits of penance (as saith Matth. Paris) obteined absolution of the pope. For
addressing and sending out messengers with all spéed vnto the pope, with a certificat of the
whole matter as it laie, he required to be assoiled of the bond which he had vnaduisedlie
entred into. This suit was soone granted, in so much that the pope directed his especiall
letters vnto him, conteining the same absolution in verie ample and large manner, as Matth.
Paris dooth report. And thus began a new broile.

The archbishop in the meane time, perceiuing that the liberties of the church were now not
onelie embezelled, but in maner extinguished, and being loth to make any further attempt
against his former dealings, would now (without the kings knowledge) haue departed the
realme, wherevpon comming to Romnie, he tooke shipping, to haue passed ouer into France,
and so to haue gone to the popes court. But by a contrarie wind he was brought backe into
England, and thereby fell further into the kings displeasure than before, in so much that,
whereas an action was commensed against him of late for a manor, which the archbishops of
Canturburie had of long time held: now the matter was so vsed that the archbishop lost the
manor, and was moreouer condemned to paie the arrerages, and thus his troubles increased
euen through his owne malapertnesse and brainesicknesse; whereas all these tumults might
haue béene composed and laid asléepe, if he had béene wise, peaceable, patient, and
obedient. For,

Vir bonus & sapiens quærit super omnia pacem,
Vúltque minora pati, metuens grauiora, cauétque,
Ne paruo ex igni scelerata incendia surgant.

In the end, the archbishop was cited to appeere before the king at Northampton, where the
king vsed him somewhat roughlie, placing his horsses at his Inne, and laid disobedience to his
charge, for that he did not personallie appeare at a certeine place before his highnesse, vpon
summons giuen vnto him[2] for the same purpose. Wherevnto though the archbishop alledged
that he had sent thither a sufficient deputie to make answere for him; yet could he not be so
excused, but was found giltie, and his goods confiscat to the kings pleasure.

Now when the archbishop heard that sentence was in suchwise pronounced against him;
"What maner of iudgement (saith he) is this? Though I hold my peace, yet the age that shall
hereafter follow, will not hide it in silence; for sithens the world began, it hath not beene
heard, that any archbishop of Canturburie hath béene iudged in any of the king of Englands
courts for any maner of cause; partlie in regard of the dignitie and authoritie of his office, and
partlie bicause he is spirituallie the father of the king and all his people. This is therefore a new
forme and order of iudgement, that the archbishop should be iudged by his suffragans, or the
father by his sons."

The next daie the king required of him the repaiment of fiue hundred marks, which he had lent
him when he was chancellor. Now although he affirmed that he receiued the same by waie of
gift, and not by waie of lone; yet bicause he confessed receit, he was condemned in that debt,
forsomuch as he could not prooue the title the gift.

On the morrow after, the archbishop with his felow bishops being set in councell, by
commandement of the king (& the doores fast locked that they should not get out) this was
proponed against the archbishop, that whereas he held certeine bishops sées as then vacant,
with abbeies, and other reuenues of his souereigne lord the king in his hands, and had made
none account to him for the same of long time; the king required now to be answered at his
hands, and that with all spéed, for he would haue no delaie. The summe amounted to thirtie
thousand markes.

When the archbishop had heard the variable sentences of the bishops in this case, he
answered after this maner: "I would (said he) speake with two earles which are about the
king," and named them. Who being called, and the doores set open, he said vnto them; "We
haue not héere at this present to shew whereby the thing may be more manifest: therefore we
aske respit for answer till to morrow." The councell therefore brake vp, and the multitude of
people, which came with the archbishop thither, being afraid of the kings displeasure, fell
from him. Wherefore he caused his seruants to fetch a great number of poore and impotent
people to his lodging, saieng that by the seruice of such men of warre, a more spéedie
victorie in short space might be gotten, than by them which in time of temptation shamefullie
drew backe. Herevpon his house was filled full, and the tables set with such as his seruants
had brought in, out of the lanes and streats abroad.

Upon the tuesdaie, the bishops all amazed and full of care, came vnto him; and bicause of the
displeasure which the king had conceiued against him, counselled him to submit himselfe to

The archbishop Becket would haue
fled out of the realme.

M. Pal. in suo sag.

The archbishop to appeare at
Northampton. R. Houed.

Sentence giuen against the
archbishop.

[121]

The archbish. condemned in fiue
hundred marks.

An assemblie of bishops.

The archbish. called to an account.

The bishops persuade the
archbishop to submit himself to the
kings pleasure.

the kings will, or else in fine, they told him plainelie, that he would be iudged a periured
person; bicause he had sworne vnto the king as to his earthlie souereigne, touching all
temporall honor in life, lim, and member; and namelie to obserue all his roiall lawes and
customes, which of late he had established.

Wherevnto he answered: "My brethren, ye see how the world roreth against me, and the
enimie riseth vp, but I more lament that the sonnes of my mother fight against me. If I should
hold my peace, yet would the world come to declare how ye leaue me alone in the battell,
and haue iudged against me now these two daies past, I being your father, though neuer so
much a sinner. But I command you by virtue of your obedience, and vpon perill of your
order, that you be not present in any place of iudgement, where my person may fortune to be
adiudged: in testimonie whereof I appeale to our mother the church of Rome. Furthermore, if
it chance that temporall men laie their hands vpon me, I charge you likewise by vertue of your
obedience, that ye exercise the censures of the church in the behalfe of your father the
archbishop as it becommeth you. This one thing know ye well, that the world roreth, the flesh
trembleth and is weake, but I (by Gods grace) will not shrinke, nor leaue the flocke
committed vnto me."

After this he entred into the church, and celebrated the masse of saint Stephan (otherwise
than he was accustomed to doo) with his pall: which being ended, he put on his sacrificing
vestures, with a cope vpon them all, and so went to the court. Further...